Paraíba will have Brazil's first NGO specialized in veterinary Cannabis

Valéria França

Veterinary Cannabis is advancing in the market in the same way that medicinal cannabis did in the past. Mothers and fathers of pets - who suffer from epilepsy and cancer pain, among other ailments - seek available treatments to alleviate the suffering of their furry children, refractory to classic medications. With the humanization of animals, they receive the same attention and care as a child.

The first positive response from the sector comes from João Pessoa, the capital of Paraíba. There, the Abracepet Esperança is being born, a non-governmental organization focused on treating animals with Cannabis. The ideator is Cassiano Teixeira, who founded Abrace Esperança six years ago, now a model association in oil production and patient care for those without resources.

Teixeira has counted 170 pet owners who have already knocked on his door asking for help. But since Abrace does not have a veterinary purpose, he decided to create Abracepet, to be able to help them soon.

Regulation

One of the major problems in the market is the lack of regulation, both for medications and for veterinarians. "The Regional Council of Veterinary Medicine of Paraíba does not comment on the matter," says Teixeira. "Veterinarians prescribe it because it works."

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) is the regulatory body for substances administered to animals. It is not the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) - as in medicinal cannabis. In the case of veterinary medicine, Mapa does not prohibit, but also does not authorize.

In Florianópolis, veterinarian Erik Amazonas, a cannabis professor and researcher at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, says that when he started prescribing, he contacted the veterinary council of the region. "I asked if I was committing a crime. There is nothing against it, any substance can be used, as long as the veterinarian has knowledge and is available for medicinal use," explains Amazonas.

Action in animals

According to the veterinarian, dogs have more cannabinoid receptors than humans. "They are more sensitive. In the USA, veterinarians use isolated CBD, but they report more side effects in treatments, such as dizziness and lethargy," says Amazonas, who prescribes full spectrum oil (with THC). "My patients do not show any symptoms. But in some, Cannabis has no effect. This is normal, even for classic medications."

Amazonas treats animals with oil donated by associations. In Brazil, there is no way to buy veterinary oil. Many pet owners end up growing it at home to treat their four-legged children. "Even without a warrant for it. They take risks."

"Now there is a medicinal Cannabidiol in pharmacies, which can be an option for pets," says veterinarian Fábio Mercante de San Juan, director of the Scientific Chamber of SBEC (Brazilian Society for Cannabis Studies). He refers to Cannabidiol from Prati-Donaduzzi, launched in April, the first nationally registered by Anvisa. The medication costs an average of R$ 1,500 and is difficult to find in pharmacies.

Activist, Juan is the founder of Dr Pet Cannabis, in São Paulo, a research, training, and treatment center. "Just like humans, animals benefit from Cannabis treatment in various pathologies. Even invertebrates have endocannabinoid systems," he says. But treatments are different for each species. The use of Cannabis is better known in cats, dogs, cattle, and horses.

In Colorado and California, veterinarians and animal guardians have been using Cannabis in treatment for over a decade. In Brazil, there are more and more cannabis veterinarians. Dr Pet has already trained 300 students. The clinic has 200 active patients and has already had 500 pass through.